Seven technology consultancies have been named among a list of the UK’s top employers. Avanade, CGI, Cognizant, Dimension Data, Infosys, TCS and Virtusa have been ranked among the 88 companies certified this year by the Top Employers Institute.

Last year, a number of consulting firms were named by careers site LinkedIn among the best companies to work for in the UK, but despite this, many roles in the industry remain difficult to fill. As the digital skills gap in the UK continues to grow, and levels of competition regarding talent acquisition rise amid an increasingly crowded market, being seen as a top employer is a major plus for any company looking to expand its headcount.

One such ranking sees The Top Employers Institute certify excellence in the conditions that employers create for their people. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company, previously known as the CRF Institute, has recognised Top Employers around the world since 1991. Being certified provides companies with the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and to reinforce the role of the HR environment in the business. The annual international research recognises leading employers from around the world who provide excellent employee conditions, grow and develop talent throughout all levels of the business, and strive to have an employee-first approach.

"From our research, we have seen how the organisations certified as one of the Top Employers put the development of their people first and are continuously working to optimise their HR and people development practices," says David Plink, CEO, Top Employers Institute.

Technology consultancies

Following the Top Employers methodology and the HR Best Practices Survey covering more than 600 HR practices, 88 UK organisations have demonstrated that they provide the highest standard of employee offerings, including seven technology consulting firms.

Among the organisations honoured is Avanade, which recently further expanded its digital consulting business across mainland Europe. The technology consultancy achieved certifications from The Top Employers Institute in Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, as well as in the UK.

Darren Hardman, Avanade Area President Europe, said, “Attracting, developing and retaining talent by providing an exceptional work environment is a top priority for us. Through tools such as our all employee survey, we strive to achieve good employee satisfaction and to foster a continuous two-way dialogue. It’s great to see that these efforts have been recognised externally through receiving these certifications.”

For the fifth year consecutively, consultancy CGI also made the grade. The firm, which includes cybersecurity among its specialities, also saw its operations in Canada, India, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden receive Top Employer 2018 certification.

“It’s through our talented professionals that we help our clients make the most of the technologies that run their business and open the doors of the digital world,” said Tara McGeehan, President, CGI in the UK. “Continued certification by the Top Employers Institute is in recognition of the collaborative and progressive working practices we strive to put in place for all of our members.”

Cognizant were similarly praised for operations across Europe and Australia. The firm was particularly acknowledged for its workforce planning and talent strategy, including the proactive role and engagement of executive management in its development and execution.

Santosh Thomas, President, Global Growth Markets, at Cognizant, said, "We recognise our employees are Cognizant's greatest asset, and we are committed to providing a workplace that empowers our associates to grow both professionally and personally. We believe in fostering a culture for lifelong learning. We continue to add programmes and tools to aid in career mapping and building new skills. This prestigious certification underscores our deep commitment to helping our associates thrive at all stages of their careers."

Dimension Data, an IT consultancy which hosts over 700 employees across 68 countries, made the list too. The consultancy was ranked by The Top Employers institute across 31 different nations. They were joined by Infosys, who were listed as a Top Employer across Europe, as well as in the UK and several other locales.

Infosys, who recently won a partnership as AI suppliers to the ATP Tennis group, said in a statement, “We are delighted to be recognised as a top employer in Europe, across major countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland. This certification demonstrates Infosys’ strategic commitment in the local market, and its investment in its employees’ wellbeing, personal development, benefits and more.”

IT Consulting Outsourcing and Agile Software Development firm Virtusa rounded off the technology consulting presence, alongside TATA Consulting Services (TCS). TCS, who last year named a new CFO in the form of Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, is going through a period of expansion in its technological service offering.

In a release, the firm said, “This exceptional recognition demonstrates TCS’ continual investment into the UK, Europe and its overall global employee network which is currently 390,000 strong. In recent months TCS, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, was listed as one of the Top Regarded Companies and one of the World’s Best Employers in the Forbes 2017 Global 2000 list.”